Connecting means

ABSTRACT

Means for establishing a connection between a support cap and a prop head for pit props of the type used in the mining industry, the support cap comprising a bar or the like supporting an upper bed such as a hanging wall or roof of the mine, and the pit prop constituting a hydraulic cylinder with its ram, or prop head, bracing against the support cap, the connecting means comprising a securing element fixed to the outer free end of the ram and releasably fixed to the support cap.

Unite States atent n 1 Albrecht 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [541 CONNECTING MEANS [75] Inventor: Werner Albrecht, Herne, Germany [73] Assignee: Klockner-Werke AG, Duisburg,

Germany [22] Filed: Feb. 3, 1971 21 App1.No.: 112,308

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 11, 1970 Germany ..P 20 06 088.2

[52] US. Cl ..248/357 [51] Int. Cl. ..E21d 15/55 [58] Field of Search ..248/357; 254/101 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,820,727 8/1931 Bayles ..248/357 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,197,836 7/1965 Germany ..248/357 1,216,224 5/1966 Germany 779,791 7/1957 Great Britain ..248/357 Primary Examiner-William 1-1. Schultz Attorney-Kenwood Ross and Chester E. Flavin [57] ABSTRACT Means for establishing a connection between a support cap and a prop head for pit props of the type used in the mining industry, the support cap comprising a bar or the like supporting an upper bed such as a hanging wall or roof of the mine, and the pit prop constituting a hydraulic cylinder with its ram, or prop head, bracing against the support cap, the connecting means comprising a securing element fixed to the outer free end of the ram and releasably fixed to the support cap.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented March 27, 1973 3,722,846

3 Sheets-Sheet .1.

lm miar WERNER ALBRECHT BY maroon! @0146 Cfimfi/z 5 5 /0402 ATTORNEYS.

CONNECTING MEANS The invention relates to a means for establishing a connection between a support cap and a ram of a pit prop as used in the mining industry, these instrumentalities being used to support such as a coal face or a mine wall or root, with the prop comprising, essentially a hydraulic cylinder used with a base or runner which rests on the floor, or lower bed or foot wall of the mine, and a support cap or horizontal bar, which supports an upper bed or hanging wall or roof of the mine, the hydraulic cylinder being disposed between the runner and support cap to receive the load, the whole being known in the mining industry as a hydraulically driven chock system.

It is known to construct a pivoting connection between a support cap and a ram or prop head and to arrange means for limiting pivoting as well as to preclude the cap from raising off of the prop head.

In a known construction, the connection between the ball head of the ram and the support cap is effected by segments engaging below the ball head and fixed'to the cap as by screws. The swivelling of the cap relative to the ball head causes the segments to strike towards the ball head. Because of the strong lever action the screws which connect the segments with the cap are sheared off, frequently causing accidents.

It is also known to connect the support cap with the ball head of the ram by a tension pin, which is driven transversely through the ball head in the longitudinal direction of the cap. This connection permits the cap to move around the axis formed by the tension pin. However, when the cap is swivelled about its longitudinal axis, the tension pin is sheared off, so that the connection is broken. Furthermore, it is very difficult to remove the sheared tension pin from the bore of the ball head. Usually, it is only after the cap and perhaps the prop, too, have been transported to the surface from the mine that it is possible to remove the tension pin as by drilling or the like.

Another construction known in the art uses a bolt or a tension pin as connecting means between the cap and the ball head of the ram or prop, which is driven transversely through the ball head in the longitudinal direction of the cap. Swivelling of the cap is possible not only around the axis of the bolt (i.e., transversely in the longitudinal direction of the cap), but also around the longitudinal axis of the cap due to the usual trumpet-shaped bore for the bolt in the ball head of the prop. Because of this additional swivelling movement around the longitudinal axis of the cap the bolt strikes the wall of the'trumpet-shaped bore in the ball head with the strong forces produced effecting a deformation of the bolt. In addition, this construction does not allow removal or replacement of the deformed bolt.

It is also known to use a wire rope as the connecting element between the cap and the prop head with the wire rope passing through both parts. However, it has been found that this connection is easily damaged and much time must be spent in installing a new rope.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction which permits easy replacement of the securing element, even if this element is damaged or deformed.

According to the present invention the problem is solved by the fact that the securing element engages in at least one support member which is detachably fixed at the support cap. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the support member projects into a hollow section of the support cap, with the arms of the support member being fixed to a lower section of the hollow section of the support cap. The usual bolt or wire rope may be provided as the securing element, with the securing element being engaged in'a groove or bore of the support member. When using a wire rope as the securing element, the securing element is provided on both sides of the prop with end caps, which are supported by a projection of the support member.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the support member is constructed as a circular part, extending around the axis of the ram or prop, with the groove or bore which serves to install the securing element extending in a longitudinal direction relative to the support cap hollow section. Within the circular part angular shoulders are provided on both sides, the free arms of which are parallel to the lower section of the support cap and are detachably fixed thereto. The free arms of the support member each pass between a pair of spaced, parallel ears which-depend from the lower section of the support cap, the ears having aligned openings to accept locking pins which are disposed below and, preferably, make frictional contact with the free arms.

An advantage of the present invention is that, if the securing element is deformed, it can easily be removed by removing the locking pins, whereupon the ram or prop with the support member and the securing element may be driven down, so that it is possible to remove and replace the securing element in a convenient position. Of course, the support member may be constructed of two separate parts which, however, requires a corresponding reinforcement of the fastening means between the free arms and lower section of the support cap.

The invention is described in detail in the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken through a support cap incorporating connecting means embodying a preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 1, with the ball cap and support cap omitted;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 of another form of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 3 of still another form of the invention.

A horizontally disposed support cap is in the form of a bar or the like having a hollow section with spaced parallel upper and lower walls I and 9 respectively.

A ball cap element 2, which extends between the upper and lower walls is fixed to the lower surface of upper wall 1 and is provided with a ball cup or recess 3 centrally of its downwardly facing upper wall in which a ball head 4 of the ram of a hydraulic cylinder or prop 5 is receivable, the ram passing through a provided opening in lower wall 9 of the support cap.

The ball head 4 and support cap are connected by an annular support member 6 which is disposed immediately below ball cap element 2 and sleeves the ball head, the support member being provided, with a groove 7, (FIGS. 1 and 2), or a bore 7a (FIGS. 3 and 4), which extends along the longitudinal axis of the support cap.

The groove 7 and bore 7a are adapted to receive a securing element 8 in the form of a pin or bolt which passes through oppositely facing bell-shaped openings provided in the upper end of the ball head.

Support member 6 is provided with a pair of depending arms 13, one at each end of the support member so as to be disposed along the longitudinal axis of support cap, the arms passing downwardly and outwardly through the provided opening in lower wall 9 of the support cap.

The lower free ends of arms 13 are bent upwardly so as to be disposed immediately below and in parallel relation to lower wall 9 of the support cap.

Pairs of depending ears 10 are provided on lower wall 9 and are so disposed that the lower free ends of arms 13 pass therebetween.

A bolt or locking pin 12, which passes through aligned openings 11 in cars 10 below the lower free ends of arms 13 serves to clamp the support member 6 to the support cap.

Each bolt or locking pin 12 is preferably in frictional contact with the lower free ends of arms 13.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 securing element 8 is constituted by a wire rope having end caps 14 supported by projections 15 and 16 at each end of support member 6.

In all embodiments, the support cap can be removed from its engagement with the prop or cylinder 5 by removal of bolts or locking pins 12, whereupon the ram or ball head of the cylinder may be driven down and securing element 8 easily removed and replaced as necessary.

I claim:

1. Means for establishing a secured connection for an apertured ball head of a mining pit prop comprising:

a hollow support cap defined by spaced walls,

a ball cap element positioned between the walls of the support cap and having a ball cup for receiving a ball head of the pit prop,

a grooved annular support member complemental to and nestable within the ball cap element,

a securing pin being receivable in the groove of the LII support member and extendable through the aperture of the ball head of the pit prop,

the support member having a pair of depending arms each extending through and outwardly of the support cap and being pinned to one of the walls of the support cap.

2. Means for establishing a secured connection for an apertured ball head of a mining pit prop comprising:

a hollow support cap defined by spaced walls,

a ball cap element positioned between the walls of a support cap and having a ball cup for receiving the ball head of the pit prop,

a grooved annular support member complemental to the ball cap element,

a securing rope and a pair of end caps being receivable in the groove of the support member with the rope being extendable through the aperture of the ball head of the pit prop and with the end caps being disposed one on each side of the pit prop,

the support member having a pair of depending arms each extending through and outwardly of the support cap and being pinned to one of the walls of the sup ort ca 3. Means or estaqflishing a secured connection for an apertured ball head of a mining pit prop comprising:

a hollow support cap defined by spaced walls,

a ball cap element positioned between the walls of the support cap and having a ball cup for receiving the ball head of the prop,

a grooved annular support member complemental to the ball cap element,

a securing pin being receivable in the groove of the support member and extendable through the aperture of the ball head of the pit prop,

the support member having a pair of depending arms extending outwardly of the support cap, and

means for releasably fixing the arms to a wall of the support cap comprising pairs of cars depending from the support cap wall with each arm passing between one pair of ears and a pin passing between the ears of each pair in frictional contact, with the arms. 

1. Means for establishing a secured connection for an apertured ball head of a mining pit prop comprising: a hollow support cap defined by spaced walls, a ball cap element positioned between the walls of the support cap and having a ball cup for receiving a ball head of the pit prop, a grooved annular support member complemental to and nestable within the ball cap element, a securing pin being receivable in the groove of the support member and extendable through the aperture of the ball head of the pit prop, the support member having a pair of depending arms each extending through and outwardly of the support cap and being pinned to one of the walls of the support cap.
 2. Means for establishing a secured connection for an apertured ball head of a mining pit prop comprising: a hollow support cap defined by spaced walls, a ball cap element positioned between the walls of a support cap and having a ball cup for receiving the ball head of the pit prop, a grooved annular support member complemental to the ball cap element, a securing rope and a pair of end caps being receivable in the groove of the support member with the rope being extendable through the aperture of the ball head of the pit prop and with the end caps being disposed one on each side of the pit prop, the support member having a pair of depending arms each extending through and outwardly of the support cap and being pinned to one of the walls of the support cap.
 3. Means for establishing a secured connection for an apertured ball head of a mining pit prop comprising: a hollow support cap defined by spaced walls, a ball cap element positioned between the walls of the support cap and having a ball cup for receiving the ball head of the prop, a grooved annular support member complemental to the ball cap element, a securing pin being receivable in the groove of the support member and extendable through the aperture of the ball head of the pit prop, the support member having a pair of depending arms extending outwardly of the support cap, and means for releasably fixing the arms to a wall of the support cap comprising pairs of ears depending from the support cap wall with each arm passing between one pair of ears and a pin passing between the ears of each pair in frictional contact with the arms. 